It carries benefits for every life stage

Think creatine is just for making gains at the gym? Think again. Emerging evidence suggests this powerhouse compound is also a major player in brain and muscle health. Once the go-to of bodybuilders and elite athletes, creatine has gone mainstream, gaining traction among everyday gym-goers and older adults looking to stay strong with age. Another growing area of interest? Creatine for women.

Evidence suggests that women have significantly lower natural creatine stores than men — up to 80% less — and often consume less creatine in their diets. That gap could make creatine supplementation especially beneficial for women. Even more intriguing, a 2021 study published in Nutrients suggests creatine levels may rise and fall with hormone fluctuations. If you’ve ever felt wiped out right before your period? Low estrogen might be to blame — and creatine could be part of the fix. When estrogen dips (like it does premenstrually or during menopause), creatine metabolism changes, possibly affecting your energy and strength. Supplementing during these times may help your muscles stay fueled and your mood more steady.

According to Jen Scheinman, MS, RD, menopause specialist and owner of Next Jen Health, “Women can benefit from creatine at any age, but there are certain life stages where it may be especially helpful. During young adulthood, it can support strength, performance and recovery. In midlife, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, creatine may help counter muscle and bone loss, especially when paired with a protein-rich diet and resistance exercise. It may also support energy levels and improve mood and cognition. Even older women may see the benefit in muscle, brain and bone health.”

Whether you’re in your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or beyond, creatine could be a smart addition to your wellness routine. Here’s what you should know about creatine for women — including which supplements to use — based on my expertise as a registered dietitian and insights from two women’s health experts.

Table of contents

A note on supplements

The products included on this list are dietary supplements. Statements about these products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Dietary supplements are not appropriate for everyone and may interact with other supplements or medications, so talk to your health care provider before adding a dietary supplement to your routine.

What is creatine?

Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that helps supply energy to your muscles, particularly during short bursts of intense activity. While it’s most concentrated in skeletal muscle, smaller amounts are also found in the brain, heart and other tissues. According to a review in Nutrients, the body produces about 50% of the creatine you need each day; the rest you’ll need to get from diet, through animal-based foods like red meat, poultry and fish. It’s also a common ingredient in sports supplements, as it’s been shown to be particularly beneficial for “athletes who do a lot of sprints and jumps,” explains sports dietitian Jessica Garay, PhD, assistant professor of nutrition at Syracuse University and founder of Major League Wellness.

While creatine is best known for its role in exercise performance, Garay notes that its benefits have been shown to extend outside the gym. “We are now recognizing that the benefits of creatine supplementation are not limited to energy production within muscle. Studies have reported improvements in bone health, cognitive function and mental health,” she says.

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Health benefits of creatine for women

Boosts exercise performance and recovery

When it comes to the role of creatine on exercise performance, the majority of research has been done either in men or competitive athletes. Still, while more studies are needed, creatine appears to have benefits for strength, power and athletic performance in healthy women, regardless of fitness level. According to a 2021 review in Nutrients, creatine has been shown to be particularly helpful for improving performance during high-intensity interval training and heavy lifting. Another review highlights research demonstrating a 20%–25% improvement in muscle strength in women following a 10-week regimen of combined creatine supplementation and strength training.

Research also suggests that creatine may support post-workout recovery and help reduce the risk of injury. In a small randomized controlled trial published in 2025, adults (both men and women) who took 3 grams of creatine daily for 33 days experienced significantly faster recovery following a weight training session compared to those taking a placebo.

Helps build and preserve lean muscle mass

Thanks to its role in increasing energy in muscle cells and minimizing muscle breakdown, creatine has also been shown to be effective for building lean muscle mass — especially in premenopausal women. It may also play a key role in building and maintaining lean muscle mass during perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause. Declining levels of estrogen, testosterone and progesterone during these phases of life are a key contributing factor to age-related muscle loss. While more research is needed, creatine supplementation is thought to help counteract this effect, especially when paired with resistance training. Creatine supplementation may also help offset bone mass loss during and after menopause, though research is mixed.

May help ease fatigue and bloating during your menstrual cycle

One of the most exciting areas of research for women is the potential role creatine might play in managing symptoms throughout the menstrual cycle. “Hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle may impact how creatine is stored and used, and emerging evidence suggests it might help reduce bloating during the luteal phase (one week before your period) by shifting fluid into the cell,” says Scheinman.

Feeling especially tired during certain phases of your cycle? Creatine might help with that too. “Research suggests that supplementation may help alleviate fatigue-related symptoms during the early follicular and luteal phases, when dips in energy are common,” Scheinman says.

However, Scheinman cautions that, while promising, there’s still a lot we don’t know about the role of creatine throughout the menstrual cycle. “These benefits have been studied mostly in physically active women, so it’s not yet clear if the same effects apply equally to sedentary women. While the research is promising, it’s not yet robust enough to recommend cycle-specific dosing,” she says.

May help alleviate symptoms of perimenopause and menopause

“During perimenopause (the transition to menopause) and menopause, women experience a decline in hormones that can lead to changes in body composition, fatigue, cognitive changes and mood fluctuations. While there is little research specifically looking at perimenopausal women, thought leaders suggest that creatine supplements may help preserve muscle mass and strength, support bone health and improve energy levels,” says Scheinman.

A concern many women have during and after menopause is changes in body composition — especially belly fat. While there’s no way to target fat in certain areas of the body, creatine may help with body composition changes by supporting the growth of lean muscle. “Emerging research also suggests it may benefit brain function and help with the symptoms of forgetfulness and brain fog that so many perimenopausal women deal with,” says Scheinman, which could make getting to your morning workout or cooking healthy meals more manageable.

May help improve memory and cognitive performance as you age

Creatine doesn’t just provide energy to your skeletal muscles — it also plays a role in energy production in your brain. While research in humans is limited, a 2023 review in Sports Medicine notes there’s promising evidence that creatine may support memory, focus and mood, especially in older adults and during times of extreme stress. For women specifically, creatine supplementation may also help combat menopause-related fatigue.

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How to take creatine

Creatine typically comes in either powder or capsule form, though gummy options have also become increasingly popular. Unless recommended otherwise by a health care professional, it’s best to follow directions listed on the supplement label.

Powders can be mixed into virtually any hot or cold beverage or food. While some people prefer mixing them with water in a shaker bottle, others like adding them to their morning coffee or stirring them into a bowl of oatmeal. Creatine capsules tend to be on the larger side, so you’ll want to have plenty of water nearby to help wash them down.

Recommended dosage

“Historically, the protocol for creatine supplementation has always been a loading phase for 4 to 5 days of roughly 20 grams of creatine per day (0.3 grams creatine per kilogram (kg) body weight), then an ongoing maintenance dose of 5 grams per day (0.03 grams creatine per kg body weight),” says Garay.

That said, some people prefer to forgo the loading phase and simply go straight to the recommended 5 grams per day. If you’re interested in the cognitive benefits of creatine, research suggests a slightly higher dose of 5 to 10 grams daily might be helpful, says Garay. The best way to determine how much to take? Talk with a health care professional.

Loading phase

The loading phase is a strategy in which high doses of creatine are taken during the initial few days of use, before tapering down to the recommended 5 grams per day dose. “The current thinking is that the loading phase definitely accelerates creatine stores in muscle, but it may not be necessary in the long-term because the lower dosage can still increase creatine levels over a 3–4 week timeframe,” says Garay. She also highlights that the loading phase could be helpful for those interested in creatine’s benefits on brain health, though more research is needed about that.

If you try the loading phase, Garay recommends splitting the recommended daily 15–20 gram dose into 5 gram increments to maximize absorption. So, take a 5-gram dose, three to four times a day for the initial loading period.

When to take creatine

According to Scheinman, there’s no one best time to take creatine. “For most people, the best time of day to take creatine is the time you are most likely to remember to take it. You want to take it consistently around the same time every day, whether that’s morning, afternoon or evening. While there may be a slight benefit to taking it with food or around your workout, consistency matters most, especially for women looking to maintain steady levels over time,” she says.

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Safety and side effects

According to an article in Current Sports Medicine Reports, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, creatine is one of the most well-researched supplements and is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effect is water retention, which typically resolves on its own after a few days.

Other potential side effects include:

• gastrointestinal discomfort

While rare, serious side effects have been reported, and creatine may interact with certain medications. Before adding creatine to your supplement lineup, be sure to talk with your doctor or another health care professional first.

As with any supplement, it’s important to choose a high-quality option from a reputable brand. Because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate supplements in the same way as medications, the best way to ensure a supplement contains the ingredients and dosages that it claims to — and nothing else — is by looking for products that are third-party tested by organizations like NSF, Informed Choice or U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP).

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What women should look for in a creatine supplement

When shopping for creatine, the main factors to keep in mind are:

“Most of the research on creatine uses creatine monohydrate, so that’s the form I recommend. Look for a supplement that provides 3 to 5 grams per serving and is third-party tested [for purity and potency],” says Scheinman. Garay echoes this sentiment, recommending particular caution with the rise in popularity of gummy products — many of which aren’t third-party tested. “[Gummies] are an easy way to take creatine, but keep in mind that recent quality testing of some of these products has revealed that they may not actually contain any creatine!”

Scheinman also adds that while some products are marketed specifically for women, “The creatine itself isn’t any different — these versions typically just add other ingredients. Unless you’re specifically looking for those extras, there’s no need to pay more for woman-focused branding.” If you do choose a product with added ingredients — like vitamins or minerals — just be sure you’re not already getting those nutrients from other supplements. Some nutrients can be harmful in high doses when taken as supplements, so it’s smart to avoid unnecessary overlap.

Lastly, you’ll want to take a look at the ingredient list and try to choose products with minimal artificial additives. If you prefer a flavored option, check the label for added sugars and the type of sweetener used. Regular sugar contributes to your total added sugar intake, while sugar alternatives like stevia or sucralose can have a distinct taste — or an aftertaste — that not everyone enjoys.

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Best creatine for women

While some products are marketed toward women, creatine supplements aren’t gender-specific and can be taken by men or women. Here are three picks recommended by our experts, though you can find even more creatine supplements we like in our expert roundup of the best creatine supplements.

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FAQs

Will creatine make me bulk up?

“When someone starts a creatine supplementation protocol, especially if they follow a high-dose loading phase, there is an increased water retention in muscle to offset the higher creatine concentration. This is sometimes referred to as bulking up,” explains Garay. However, she notes that this effect is typically less pronounced in women, “in part because females have a lower base level of creatine to begin with.” If you’re worried about water retention, Garay recommends skipping the loading phase, as the smaller dose may help limit how much water retention occurs.

Is creatine only for women who weight lift?

No. All of our experts agreed that creatine offers benefits both in and out of the gym and may be particularly beneficial for certain groups. “Vegetarian and vegan women may see even greater benefits, since their diets typically provide little to no creatine, leading to lower baseline levels in the body,” says Scheinman.

How long does it take to see results?

Garay explains that once it’s absorbed, creatine is available for immediate use or stored for later. For athletic performance and strength, Garay says, “We know it provides benefits after 10–12 weeks of consistent use. But some research studies have even shown benefits on exercise performance after only 5 days of supplementation compared to no creatine at all.”

Can women in their 60s, 70s and beyond take creatine?

“Women of all ages can benefit from creatine, depending on their goals. It’s one of the most well-studied supplements for performance and recovery in women across all age groups,” says Scheinman. For women in their later years, emerging evidence suggests that creatine may be helpful for improving cognitive function and may help preserve lean body mass, especially when paired with resistance training.

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Meet our experts

• Jen Scheinman, MS, RD, CDN, menopause specialist and owner of Next Jen Health

• Jessica Garay, PhD, RDN, CSSD, FAND, assistant professor of nutrition at Syracuse University Falk College of Sport and founder of Major League Wellness

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Our health content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional on questions about your health.